CAIR works to attain equal opportunity for – and normalize the image of – Muslims in America. With a mission to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance, their Civil Rights Department provides pro bono legal services to Muslims who have faced discrimination as a result of their race, religion or ethnicity. The primary mandate of CAIR is to promote and defend the constitutional rights of all Americans and to assist those who cannot attain justice themselves.

CAIR-Chicago's work spans four different areas.

Civil Rights – Advocacy & Legal Representation – The cases range from racial profiling, harassment and bullying in schools and workplaces, citizenship delays, police misconduct, prisoners’ rights, and workplace discrimination. CAIR are committed to upholding equality and combating discrimination of all forms through negotiation, litigation, education and awareness. CAIR also meet regularly with community partners and government agencies & leaders to advocate against hate and discrimination in our workplaces, schools, and communities.

Political Empowerment – CAIR Chicago helps community members understand and utilize the political system to work for them. Projects include voter registration drives, community workshops, “know your rights” educational campaigns, and training of mosques and Muslim centers on how to contact local and national politicians.

Media Monitoring – CAIR Chicago monitors the local media closely and flag bias against Muslims. They respond accordingly to editors and producers with letters, phone calls, or meetings. They mobilize the community in letter writing campaigns to reinforce feedback sent to the media.

Community Outreach – CAIR forges mutually beneficial partnerships with local and national institutions whose activities overlap with CAIR-Chicago’s in order to maximize efficiency. They work to empower the Muslim community and to foster an understanding between Chicago’s Muslim and non-Muslim communities via public education, and to serve the needs of the Chicagoland community via public service.